CJ Jobe, 3, gets his arm painted by Donna Cunningham while Kamryn Lee, 3, waits. The children were participants at Birthday Bash, part of a weeklong celebration for London Towne Community Awareness Week. Photo by Mitchelle Stephenson.
For the past 30 years, the London Towne community in Edgewater has hosted a weeklong series of events that organizers call London Towne Community Awareness Week.
Most of the events are held at the community hall on Mayo Road, or at one of the community's five beaches on the South River.
The week kicked off with a fishing contest on Saturday and a community flea market. On Sunday there was a pet show in community hall, followed by a parade down Mayo Road on Monday.
The procession made its way from Edgewater Elementary, located at the northwestern corner of the development, to Londontown Road, which is near the southwestern end.
The parade included London Towne resident entries and others like antique fire trucks from the local volunteer fire department as well as participation of local businesses. Among the local business participants this year were Slater's Dance Studio and South River Martial Arts. Once the parade ends, the participants and audience disperse to the community hall for games, refreshments and awards.
On Tuesday they hosted a birthday party for the children under age 12.
Volunteers have games like musical chairs and hula hoops, plus face painting and cupcakes. Midway through the celebration they sing "Happy Birthday" to the London Towne community.
Lindsay Wells and her sister Farrah Mohler were in charge of the birthday bash this year. They've been coming to the event since they were kids, and have been involved in organizing it or volunteering since they were teenagers. Both are in their 30s now, and took over hosting as homage to their mother, Cheryl Wells, who for years has been very involved in the London Towne community.
The elder Wells was recently diagnosed with cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments. She was unable to attend, which made the two sisters even more deter--mined to pull off a fun event for the children.
Oran Czajkowski, 11, was there with his mom, Susan King, and his best friend Michael Long, 10. "This event is great, it rocks," Oran said.
King, a resident of the community for 25 years, said that the activities they do every year are great for the kids.
"It takes someone special to come out here with all these little kids and do all of these activities," King said.
Later in the week, the boys said that they are looking forward to the bike race, the youth dance and the volleyball tournament.
The community as an organized entity, dates to 1939 when the Maryland General Assembly designated London Towne as a special assessment district. Current U.S. Census data puts the number of homes at over 3,000 with over 7,500 residents.
Shore Drive, a winding 2-mile road that hugs the shoreline of the South River, borders the community on the east. Each of the community's five beaches are located along Shore Drive. Some of the beaches have a spot for swimming, while others have a boat ramp or just picnic benches and docks.
The houses in the community range from older summer cottages to modern three-story architecture. There are abandoned properties and beautifully landscaped English-style gardens. There are boats parked in practically every other driveway.
Playgrounds dot the community at not only the beaches, but on other parcels of common property.
Yesterday a senior's luncheon was held and at 6:30 p.m. today, the community will hold its annual volleyball tournament and potluck supper. Each of the five beaches sends a volleyball team to the tournament.
Tomorrow at 3 p.m., the community hosts the children's bicycle contest and parade from Beach 3 to Beach 5 along Shore Drive. Later in the evening, there is a youth dance for children aged 8 to 13.
On Saturday, the annual canoe and kayak race at Beach 5 starts the festivities for the day at 10:30 a.m., followed by the Ramblin' Raft Race at 11 a.m.
Farrah Mohler said that in the past she has seen rafts made out of all kinds of things, including beer kegs tied together and one made out of children's arm floaties attached to a wooden door. "It's a lot of fun," Mohler said.
The festivities continue on Saturday with a sand sculpture contest. Later in the evening, at 8 p.m., the Live, Local Bands concert showcases local musicians for an $8 admission.
The week of fun wraps on Sunday when the fishing tournament comes to an end and the community hosts the Bull Roast/Shrimp Feast where the winners of various awards for community service are announced.
Mitchelle Stephenson is a freelance writer living in Edgewater.
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